Interaction models for effective thermal and electric conductivities of carbon nanotube composites

ABSTRACTThe present article provides supplementary information of previous works of analytic models for predicting conductivity enhancements of carbon nanotube composites. The models, though fairly simple, are able to take account of the effects of conductivity anisotropy, non-straightness, and aspect ratio of the CNT additives on the conductivity enhancement of the composite and to give predictions agreeing well with existing experimental data. The omitted detailed derivation of this model is demonstrated in the present article with a more systematical analysis, which may help with further development in this direction. Furthermore, the effects of various orientation distributions of CNTs are reported here for the first time. The information may be useful in design or fabrication technology of CNT composites for better or specified conductivities.